MAGAZINE EACH STUDENT’S EXPERIENCE FORGES ALUMNI CONNECTIONS ALUMNI ARE THE HEART OF FRESNO STATE AND OUR REGION Cary Edmondson Letters to Fresno State Magazine: Wherever I’ve traveled as Fresno State president, even abroad, our alumni never seem to tire of demonstrating their Bulldog pride: wearing red, cheering our teams, helping our graduates start careers, creating opportunities for our alumni of tomorrow. Wanted you to know how much I enjoyed the tribute to Philip Stephens (Spring 2012 issue). I was an RA Fresno State alumni have set high standards for today’s and future students in a broad in the dorms and knew Philip well. He even came to church often with several of us and showed off range of careers around the world, even into space. his enthusiasm during hymns! We all loved his BIG life and his wonderful attitude and sense of humor. While we have graduates who are living and working in nearly every corner of the globe, I filled in as his class note taker several times when many Fresno State alumni choose to stay in Central California. They are our neighbors, schedule conflicts occurred. He was a blessing to leaders, employers, growers, caregivers, educators, builders, artists, intellectuals, law all who met him and I am so glad his legacy will enforcement officials, clergy and social services providers. And our region is richer for last at Fresno State. their contributions and influence. – Emily Wheatley (1975) via Facebook As catalysts for positive change and triumph over shared challenges, our alumni are the foundation of university engagement with the community and the region’s greater good. My compliments to your team for the recent issue of FresnoState Magazine. I especially wish to thank I am confident that the university will continue to thrive, and our community with it, you for the article on Bob Nicol and his gift to Deaf because of the commitment and quality of our alumni. Studies and Dr. Paul Ogden’s Silent Garden Chair. I hope all the wonderful offices that support the faculty and students get a well deserved morale boost from the issue. – Dr. George Diestel, professor emeritus John D. Welty, of Communication President Magazine is published by the Office of University Communications at California State University, Fresno. Fall 2012 President John D. Welty Vice President for University Advancement Peter N. Smits Associate Vice President for University Communications Shirley Melikian Armbruster Executive Director, Web Communications and Publications Bruce Whitworth Fresno State Magazine Editors Lanny Larson and Lindsey Bickel Burgess Senior Graphic Designer Todd Graves Director of Media and Development Communications Kathleen R. Schock University Communications Editorial Team Margarita Adona, Cary Edmondson, Angel Langridge, Kevin Medeiros, April Schulthies, Tom Uribes Student Assistant Nicole Maul Opinions expressed in this magazine do not necessarily CONTENTS reflect official university policy. Letters to the editor and contributions to Class Notes are welcome; they may be edited for clarity and length. Unless otherwise noted, articles may be reprinted as long as credit is given. Copyrighted photos may not be reprinted without e Featur 2 express written consent of the photographer or the Office of University Communications. Clippings and President Welty will retire from other editorial contributions are appreciated. All inquiries 13 Fresno State, but not from service and comments, including requests for faculty contact information, should be sent to Editor, Fresno State Magazine, 5200 N. Barton Ave., ML49, Fresno, CA 4 Centerpiece 93740-8023. The Fresno State Alumni Association seeks Phone: 559.278.2795 to enhance connections, commitment Fax: 559.278.2436 www.FresnoState.edu Busier Smittcamp Alumni House www.FresnoStateNews.com is part of ambitious plan A World of Fresno State Alumni Where in the nation are our alumni? 18 Stay in touch! 13 Campaign We’d like your comments about FresnoState Magazine. Please email them to [email protected]. If you receive more than one copy of FresnoState Magazine, 18 Sports please pass it along to a friend of Fresno State. If you would like to support Fresno State, visit SupportFresnoState.com to make your contribution. 24 Alumni news 33 Tree portrait “Like” Fresno State on Facebook and stay connected to more than 37,000 students, alumni and friends. Visit us at www.facebook.com/FresnoState. ON THE COVER Like all Fresno State alumni, Alejandra Garcia Fresno State is a minority serving will have many connections to campus when institution and a federally designated she graduates in 2013. Hispanic-Serving Institution, reflecting the rich diversity of Central California. © 2012 California State University, Fresno PRESIDENT WELTY WILL RETIRE FROM FRESNO STATE, BUT NOT FROM SERVICE By Lindsey Bickel Burgess 2 Cary Edmondson After more than 21 years of service, Fresno State’s longest- serving president, Dr. John D. Welty, will retire in summer 2013, leaving both the university and Central California forever changed. From his first day on campus, Welty, a first-generation college graduate, was passionate about providing opportunities for an increasingly diverse population as well as for investing in and engaging with the Central California region. In looking back, it is clear that his energy, creativity and commitment helped transform that vision into reality; and as we look ahead, the university community can be proud of an innovative leader who strengthened an already strong institution and the region that it serves. His service to the community was recognized in November 2012 when he was named among the “Central Valley Legends” – the 20 most influential business people of the last two decades – by The Business Journal in Fresno. Under Welty’s leadership, Fresno State became one of the first CSU campuses to offer a doctoral degree (Educational Leadership), and this fall, two new doctoral programs were added: Doctor of Nursing Practice and Doctor of Physical Therapy. Welty was also a key player in the development of the Smittcamp Family Honors College, considered among the best in the California State University system. Each year, this program accepts 50 top California high school graduates who participate in specially designed courses and curriculum. Always a champion of community engagement, Welty focused on leveraging the university’s resources for the good of Central California, and as a result many centers, institutes and community partnerships were developed. Due in large part to his passion for volunteerism, service learning was incorporated into the Fresno State curriculum. The university has since been nationally recognized multiple times by the Corporation for National and Community Service and the U.S. Department of Education for its efforts. Welty’s leadership and hands-on collaboration were critical to the success of the university’s fundraising efforts, especially important as state funding for the CSU has declined in recent years. Welty’s fundraising legacy includes the Craig School of Business, Kremen School of Education and Human Development, Jordan College of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, Lyles College of Engineering and the Lyles Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, among many others. During his tenure, the campus has been transformed with $425 million in new facilities, which benefit both the university community and the Central California community at-large, including the award-winning Henry Madden Library and the state-of-the-art Save Mart Center. A native of Amboy, Ill., Welty has served in higher education since graduating from Western Illinois University, Macomb in 1965. He earned his master’s in College Student Personnel Services from Michigan State University and his doctorate in Administration of Higher Education from Indiana University, Bloomington. Before coming to Fresno State, Welty served as president of Indiana University of Pennsylvania. Although Welty will leave Fresno State in the summer of 2013, it should not be a surprise that he will remain involved in education. In addition to serving on several boards and commissions, Welty will serve as a Trustee Professor for the California State University at a CSU campus. – Lindsey Bickel Burgess is the senior writer/editor with the Office of University Communications. 3 THE FRESNO STATE ALUMNIALUMNI ASSOCIASSOCIAATIONTION SEEKS TO ENHANCE CONNECTIONS, COMMITMENT By Felicia Cousart Matlosz YOUR BULLDOG CONNECTION. FOR LIFE. fter decades of steadfast dedication, The objective is to spark increased interest and the Fresno State Alumni Association is involvement, spurring a rise in engagement, initiating major changes that university and volunteerism, and advocacy on behalf of the association officials hope will broaden and university and to imbue in all students – from strengthen the organization, making it a stronger their first day on campus – the desire to stay link between alumni and their alma mater. connected and give back to their campus. How distinctive is this transformation? The Alumni Association’s board of directors Here’s one example: No more dues, because and university representatives are following everyone associated with Fresno State – now recommendations presented in March 2012 or in the past – is now automatically considered by the Renaissance Task Force. The group a member of the Alumni Association. was convened after President John D. Welty established a commission to evaluate the future What’s more, the association is committed of university development.